Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2761

Introduced
2/6/26  
Refer
2/6/26  
Report Pass
2/17/26  
Engrossed
2/25/26  
Refer
2/26/26  
Report Pass
3/12/26  
Enrolled
3/24/26  

Caption

Enacting the speech-language pathology assistant act to provide for the licensure of speech-language pathology assistants.

Impact

The enactment of HB 2761 will have a significant impact on the practice of speech-language pathology in Kansas. By creating a formal licensure process for SPLAs, the bill aims to enhance the quality of care provided to patients and ensure that assistants operate under the supervision of licensed speech-language pathologists. This could lead to more consistent standards of practice and improved patient outcomes in speech and language services. Moreover, it reflects a broader trend of professionalization within health care fields where specific roles require formal recognition and regulation.

Summary

House Bill 2761, titled the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Licensure Act, aims to establish a regulatory framework for the licensure of speech-language pathology assistants (SPLAs) in Kansas. This legislation mandates that all individuals wishing to practice as speech-language pathology assistants must meet specific educational qualifications, complete supervised clinical experience, and obtain a license from the secretary of health and environment. The bill defines terms related to SPLAs and outlines the responsibilities and limitations of SPLAs in various therapeutic settings.

Contention

While supporters of HB 2761 argue that it will improve standards and accountability within speech-language services, there are notable points of contention. Critics may express concerns about potential barriers to entry into the profession due to the educational and licensure requirements, which could limit the availability of skilled assistants in certain areas. Additionally, the supervision requirements outlined in the bill place significant responsibility on licensed speech-language pathologists to manage and oversee the work of assistants effectively, which could lead to debates about the feasibility and implications of these regulations on existing practices.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2002

Expanding medical assistance eligibility and enacting the cutting healthcare costs for all Kansans act.

KS HCR5002

Providing for the adjournment sine die of the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

KS HB2003

Establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, modifying the definition of household income and increasing the appraised value threshold for eligibility of seniors and disabled veterans related to increased property tax claims and citing the section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, providing property tax exemptions for certain personal property including watercraft, marine equipment, off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and certain trailers, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value, providing for certain exclusions from the prohibition of paying taxes under protest after a valuation notice appeal and providing four prior years' values on the annual valuation notice.

KS SR1701

Providing for the organization of the Senate for the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

KS HR6002

Providing for assignment of seats in the House of Representatives for the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

KS HR6001

Providing for the organization of the House of Representatives for the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

KS HB2001

Authorizing the secretary of commerce to enter into agreements with major professional sports franchises to establish STAR bond projects for a major professional sports complex, providing for additional revenue sources, expanding the powers and discretion of the secretary and making other changes to the STAR bonds financing act to facilitate such projects, limiting the secretary’s authority to approve such projects to one year unless extended by the legislative coordinating council, authorizing the Kansas development finance authority to issue STAR bonds for such projects, transferring funds under certain circumstances from the state gaming revenues fund to the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and, if approved by the legislative coordinating council, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

KS SB2

Eliminating the income limit to qualify for the subtraction modification exempting social security benefits, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, citing the increased property tax homestead refund claim section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, decreasing the normal privilege tax rate, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district; providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund, reducing the state rate of tax on sales of food and food ingredients and modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund from revenue collected.

KS SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

KS SB7

Authorizing federally licensed firearm dealers, in addition to county sheriffs, to receive applications for concealed carry licenses and forward such applications to the attorney general, prohibiting sheriffs from assessing any fee related to application services and allowing dealers to assess a fee related to application services not to exceed $20.

Similar Bills

CO HB1075

Regulate Speech-Language Pathology Assistants

VA HB2040

Speech-language pathology assistants; licensure, qualifications, scope of practice.

MN SF1534

Speech language pathology assistants requirements clarification provision, amending licensure fees, and appropriation

MN HF1825

Requirements for speech language pathology assistants clarified.

IL HB2986

HOLOCAUST COMM-SCHOOLS-MISC